Opel Astra Facelift: No more manual transmission available

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Opel unveiled the revised Astra in December 2025. It can be ordered immediately, and deliveries are expected to begin in the spring. “We are making customers an offer they can't refuse,” says Opel Germany brand manager Patrick Dinger. While optimism is part of his job, a more sober assessment suggests the Astra, despite its qualities, faces a difficult period ahead. Opel has missed opportunities in some areas to make the car fit for the second half of its planned production run.

There's a snappier infotainment system and a slight redesign of the front, making the car appear a bit rounder. Opel also promises further improved seats. Essentially, that's it for the exterior changes. Additionally, the traction battery of the Astra Electric can supply power to external consumers. The changes to the powertrains are more profound. The base gasoline engine is being dropped from the lineup, as is the option for a manual transmission. The first price list for the revised model only includes versions that take this task away from the driver. This should align with the preferences of most customers, but it will also push prices up slightly.

Hybrid becomes the base

Financially, the new base model is the 1.2-liter hybrid with 107 kW and an electrified six-speed dual-clutch transmission. The diesel with 96 kW and an eight-speed torque converter automatic transmission costs around 1600 euros more. Opel is clearly very confident in the plug-in hybrid introduced in 2025, as it costs almost 500 euros more than the Astra Electric.

In the PHEV, Opel combines a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine producing 110 kW with a 92 kW electric motor integrated into a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and a 17.2 kWh battery. Unfortunately, charging is still only possible in single-phase mode at up to 7.4 kW. The fact that Opel considers this charging power sufficient without additional costs is only a small consolation. This can usually only be utilized at public charging infrastructure. At private wallboxes, it typically stops at 3.7 kW. Opel states the WLTP range as 82 to 84 km. Perhaps potential buyers will be attracted by the fact that no other Astra is currently as fast as the plug-in hybrid: a top speed of 225 km/h and acceleration of 7.6 or 7.7 seconds (station wagon) leave the other models in the shade in this regard.

DC charging remains at 100 kW

The Astra Electric has been equipped with a slightly larger battery, now offering 58 instead of 54 kWh. According to Opel, this allows for approximately 35 km more range before the first charging stop. This refers to the WLTP cycle and is likely a rather optimistic estimate in practice. Nevertheless, up to 454 km in the cycle should suffice in many driving profiles. Still, some interested buyers will wonder why it's possible in other group models to charge at least at 120 kW at peak, while the Astra remains at 100 kW. Customers of the electrified versions also have to live with a significantly smaller trunk. The combustion engine versions offer 422 (sedan) to 597 liters (station wagon). In the Astra Electric, this is reduced to 352 to 516 liters, and in the plug-in hybrid, only 310 to 466 liters remain.

No special offer

The calculation of prices for the Astra Electric likely factored in that some customers may be eligible for a purchase premium. However, a list price of at least 37,990 euros, given the rather average technical specifications, is not a special offer, to put it mildly. If Opel wants to increase the share of electric Astra sales, it will likely only happen through price reductions. The subsidy might push the list price of the Astra Electric below that of the hybrid model. Perhaps this will help to bring the actual prices paid into a range where more Astra-interested buyers consider the battery-electric drive (test). In terms of its driving characteristics, it remains the most pleasant and therefore deserves greater resonance.